In recognition of Fraud Prevention Month, Équité Association and its members are releasing a comprehensive thought-leadership series designed to illuminate the most pressing fraud issues currently facing the insurance industry. This series is not just about identifying the problems, such as the $900 million auto theft claims costs in 2025, but about showcasing the innovative solutions being deployed to disrupt criminal networks.

Gianna Aimola, Vice President, Claims at Allstate Insurance Company of Canada brings focus to the complexities and public safety risks associated with auto theft, including re-VINs and staged collisions. Allstate Canada has provided peace of mind with property and casualty insurance to Canadians since 1953, and offers a full line of auto and home products.

Équité: For Fraud Prevention Month, what type of insurance fraud would you like to raise awareness about and why?

• Gianna Aimola (GA): Auto fraud is one of the largest, and growing areas of concern across the insurance sector. While vehicle theft and exports to other countries have attracted a lot of attention, we are also seeing auto fraud in other areas. This includes stolen vehicles being assigned fake Vehicle Identification Numbers and re-sold in within Canada, as well as staged collisions that can involve unsuspecting drivers. These activities not only fund organized crime and drive up the cost of insurance, but they’re also a concerning safety risk for Canadians.
  
  There has been meaningful progress through collaboration between the insurance industry and law enforcement, but more work still needs to be done to support communities coast-to-coast.

Équité: How have fraud trends changed over time?

• GA: Auto fraud is a widespread, costly issue, which creates conditions for it to evolve. Advances in technology and the growing use of AI have added new layers of sophistication to fraudulent activity. The increasing involvement of organized crime can also make certain schemes more complex. However, an aspect that sometimes gets overlooked is motivation. In challenging economic times, financial strain can fuel an increase in opportunistic fraud, where legitimate insurance claims are inflated for personal gain. This behaviour ultimately increases costs for the industry and impacts all insurance customers.

Équité: What is our organization doing to protect clients and communities from insurance fraud?

• GA: Allstate is in the business of providing protection for what our customers care about most; so we’ve committed to a culture of continuous improvement for how we provide that protection. In addition to investing in technology, we’ve seen the value of strong partnerships across the industry – particularly with associations like Équité Association – as well as with law enforcement. Shared training, intelligence, and coordinated action can help reduce the opportunities for fraud across insurers and support efforts to keep costs down for all Canadians. Raising awareness is also essential. Providing customers with clear information and resources to help them recognize fraud and understand how to reduce their risk plays an important role in protecting both consumers and insurers.

Équité: How is technology advancement influencing how you approach fraud detection?

• GA: Technology has driven significant improvements in fraud detection and prevention. AI, machine learning, and advanced data analytics are enhancing our ability to identify suspicious patterns and enable early detection of abnormal behaviour. These tools also help improve efficiency and accuracy, resulting in faster response times. At the same time, we recognize that technology is most effective when paired with human expertise. That is why we continue to invest in training and collaboration tools to help ensure our people can use these systems to their fullest potential

In an era of heightened risk, the insurance industry is more committed than ever to protecting clients from the impacts of fraud. Driving collaboration with government, law enforcement and other stakeholders, Équité and its members are strengthening fraud deterrence efforts to protect Canadians against insurance crime.

Disclaimer: Shared for general information only, not to be construed as legal advice.

‍